Rhododendron maximum | 3 gal. pot (Oversized)

The Rosebay is one of two species of elepidote, or large-leaved rhododendrons native to the Eastern U.S, and is found from Nova Scotia south to Georgia. It is most abundant in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania through Georgia, where it favors eastern and northern exposures and shady valleys. North of Pennsylvania, there are only small, isolated populations. A valuable landscape plant for creating large, informal evergreen screens, it can grow to over 12 feet. As an added bonus, it blooms in late June to early July with flowers of pale pink buds opening to white flowers. It performs best in partial shade. Often used in hybridizing for its cold-hardiness, late bloom, and full truss of flowers, maximum is quite heat-tolerant as well. The leaves are a matte green color and more lance-shaped than catawbiense. The new growth is often covered with a white layer of tomentum which soon disappears; on some a thin layer of tan indumentum remains on the leaf underside. We are offering our own strain of seedlings grown from superior selected forms.